France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Related Developments
- Why Britain can't just return asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
