France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent 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 implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop 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 stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just send back migrants to French territory
- French government withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
