France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
