France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, 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 Updates
- Reasons Britain cannot just send back migrants to France
- France backing away from commitment to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security