French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts 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 done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
Connected Updates
- Why UK can't just return migrants to France
- French government withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
