French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline 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 zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just send back asylum seekers to France
- France backing away from commitment to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
