French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
Connected Developments
- Why Britain cannot just send back asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from commitment to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security