French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
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 follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK can't just return migrants to French territory
- French government withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
