French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
Related Updates
- Why UK cannot just send back migrants to French territory
- France withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
