France to begin stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just send back migrants to France
- France backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
