French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just send back asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
