French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Related Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return asylum seekers to France
- France withdrawing from pledge to stop asylum boats
