French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no 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 migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions 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 Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Related Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return asylum seekers to France
- France backing away from commitment to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
