French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Related Updates
- Reasons Britain can't just return migrants to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
