France will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Why Britain cannot just send back migrants to France
- France backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
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