France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Related Developments
- Why UK cannot just send back asylum seekers to France
- French government withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
