French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- France backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats
