French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating 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 picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Connected Updates
- Why UK can't just return asylum seekers to French territory
- France backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
