France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
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 former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just send back asylum seekers to France
- French government withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats
