France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Related Updates
- Reasons UK can't just send back migrants to France
- France backing away from commitment to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
