French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices 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 significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Connected Updates
- Why Britain can't just return asylum seekers to France
- France backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
