France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just send back migrants to French territory
- French government withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
