France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
Connected Updates
- Reasons Britain can't just return asylum seekers to French territory
- French government withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
