France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Related Developments
- Why Britain can't just return asylum seekers to French territory
- French government backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
