French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Updates
- Reasons UK can't just return migrants to France
- French government backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
