French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Connected Updates
- Reasons UK cannot just send back migrants to France
- French government backing away from commitment to intercept asylum boats
