French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Related Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just return migrants to French territory
- France withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
