French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened 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 implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept 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.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
Related Developments
- Reasons UK can't just return migrants to France
- French government backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
