France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
Related Developments
- Reasons UK can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- France backing away from commitment to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
