French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Related Updates
- Why Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to France
- French government backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
