France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Related Updates
- Why UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- French government withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
