France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for 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
- Reasons UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- France withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
