French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for 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.
Related Updates
- Reasons Britain cannot just return migrants to France
- French government withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
