French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police 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 police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Connected Developments
- Why UK can't just send back migrants to French territory
- France backing away from commitment to intercept asylum boats
