French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Why UK cannot just send back migrants to France
- French government backing away from commitment to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
