France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return asylum seekers to France
- French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
