French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Updates
- Reasons UK can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats
