France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any 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 police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Related Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just send back asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
