France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just send back asylum seekers to France
- France backing away from commitment to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
