French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Why Britain can't just send back migrants to French territory
- France backing away from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
