France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Related Updates
- Why Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
