French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just return migrants to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
