French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Connected Developments
- Why UK cannot just return asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats
