France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches 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 seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Related Developments
- Why UK cannot just return migrants to France
- France backing away from commitment to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
