French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- France backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
