France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Related Developments
- Why UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
