France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Related Updates
- Reasons UK cannot just return asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security