French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory
- France withdrawing from commitment to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security