France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Why UK cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory
- French government backing away from commitment to stop asylum boats