France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory
- French government withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
