French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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- Why Britain can't just send back asylum seekers to France
- France backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
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