France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action 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 office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Related Updates
- Why Britain can't just return migrants to France
- French government withdrawing from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
