French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method 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 former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Why Britain cannot just return migrants to French territory
- France backing away from commitment to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
