France will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices 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 approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory
- France backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
