French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Why UK can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
