France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Related Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- France withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
