France will start stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Updates
- Reasons UK can't just return asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
