UK pressing French to start intercepting migrant boats

FRANCE may not start intercepting migrant dinghies in the English Channel during the peak crossing months, Yvette Cooper hinted.

- By Michael Knowles

Home Office sources had been hoping operations to block boats in the water would begin at the end of this month. At present, French police can only act on land.

The warmer months - particularly August and September - are considered the peak for people smugglers, due to the sea being calmer. Three hundred migrants crossed the Channel in small boats yesterday, less than 24 hours after 601 were detected on 10 boats.

Action

The Home Secretary told LBC: "We hope that the work that the French are doing means that they will start taking action within French waters over the next few months.

"I think that is hugely important. We're obviously pressing them to do that as swiftly as possible."

People smugglers have adapted their tactics because they know the French police won't intercept them in the water.

The crime gangs launch a boat further down the coast and pick up asylum seekers already standing in the sea, with officers watching on.

Ms Cooper said: "Once everybody is in the water, the French authorities do not intervene. That is a serious problem." She added: "So the UK governments have been asking France to change their position for very many years, and they have now finally agreed to do so.

"That is important, but it's not enforced yet."

Home Office figures show 12,407 migrants have crossed the English Channel so far this year in 224 boats, with 1,333 arriving in May alone.