French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left 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 damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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- Reasons UK can't just return asylum seekers to France
- France backing away from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
