France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Connected Updates
- Reasons Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to France
- French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
