France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- France withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
