France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as 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 waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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- French government backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
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