France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Related Updates
- Why Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
