French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Why Britain cannot just send back asylum seekers to France
- French government withdrawing from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
