French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- France backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
