French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Related Developments
- Why UK cannot just send back migrants to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
