France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Connected Updates
- Why Britain cannot just send back migrants to French territory
- France withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
