French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as 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 spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK can't just return migrants to French territory
- French government withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
