France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just send back migrants to French territory
- France withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
