France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Connected Updates
- Reasons UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- France backing away from pledge to intercept asylum boats
