French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just return migrants to France
- France backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
