French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Related Updates
- Why UK can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- France backing away from commitment to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
