France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
