French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
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 British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no 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 collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Updates
- Why UK can't just return asylum seekers to French territory
- France backing away from pledge to intercept asylum boats
