French authorities have approved a new operational framework allowing maritime police to intercept small boats heading for the United Kingdom—marking the first time France has formally authorised such actions at sea. The move follows renewed diplomatic pressure from London, including a letter in which UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged French President Emmanuel Macron to accelerate joint measures this month.
A document dated 25 November—seen by Le Monde—was signed by four prefects overseeing the Channel and North Sea region, including the departments of Nord, Somme, and Pas-de-Calais, where migrant departures are most concentrated. The text establishes guidelines for “unprecedented interventions” aimed at stopping vessels before they reach British waters.
According to Le Monde, the document states that the maritime gendarmerie will be empowered to intervene near ports and coastal channels, initially focusing on so-called “taxi boats” used by smuggling networks. These vessels often enter the water under light load before being met offshore and filled with passengers attempting to reach the UK.
The operational note emphasises strict limits on the use of force, saying officers may only employ “graduated and reversible measures,” from issuing stop orders to immobilising boats or redirecting them toward French authorities. Officials also underline that “the absolute priority is safeguarding human life”, highlighting the risks along a route where multiple fatalities have occurred in recent years.
UK Pressure and Diplomatic Background
More than 39,000 people crossed the Channel irregularly last year, many from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, and Eritrea. The rise in dangerous crossings triggered renewed debate over Anglo-French cooperation.
In a letter reportedly addressed to Mr Macron, Starmer wrote, “It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month… We do not have an effective deterrent in the Channel.” The UK has contributed almost £500 million to French border management efforts over several years, though British officials have often complained of limited results.
Internal French Resistance
The plan has faced pushback from some French police unions and navy officials. Representatives of Alliance, France’s largest police union, warned that directing crowded boats at sea poses serious safety concerns for both migrants and officers.
A senior union official said operations involving packed boats—often carrying children—would be “extremely dangerous,” while a French naval officer told Le Monde that poorly executed interventions risk causing “disaster”.
Policy Momentum After Delays
A previous French interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, had supported limited at-sea interventions, including the creation of a specialised maritime unit. That proposal stalled amid operational concerns, but the new directive indicates that authorities are now prepared to move forward under stricter safeguards.
The French government has not commented publicly on when the interceptions will begin, but officials say the first phase will focus on ports and narrow channels before moving to broader coastal waters.
Source:Africa Publicity
