French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just return migrants to France
- France withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
