France will start stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
Connected Updates
- Why Britain can't just return migrants to France
- France withdrawing from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
