French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Related Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
