French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again 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 uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Connected Updates
- Why UK can't just send back asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from commitment to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
