France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Related Developments
- Why Britain can't just send back asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
