France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Why Britain cannot just send back asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
