France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just send back migrants to French territory
- France backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
