French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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- Reasons UK can't just return migrants to France
- France backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
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