French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
Related Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just send back migrants to France
- French government withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
