France will start stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Related Developments
- Reasons UK can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- France withdrawing from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
