France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just return asylum seekers to France
- French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
