France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just return migrants to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
