French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Related Updates
- Why Britain cannot just return migrants to France
- French government backing away from commitment to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
