France finally agrees to lift the crucial ban as the number of small boats increases concerns | World

France agreed to lift the prohibition of long data that the police intercept migrant boats in the sea, in an attempt to stop the growing number of hazardous channels to the United Kingdom.

The significant change in politics, welcome by the Secretary of the Interior, Yvette Cooper, occurs after increasing the pressure to address the gangs handled by people operating along the northern coast of France.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirmed Thursday that the Government would seek to change the law to allow French authorities to intervene against migrant ships in shallow waters, marking a great deviation from current regulations.

According to the existing rule, the French Police are prohibited from stopping the boats once they are thrown, leaving them helpless to intervene until they are already in the sea.

This change occurs in the midst of the growing concerns about the number of small boats that try the dangerous trip through the channel.

There are more than 2,000 crosses so far this year, continuing the trend of high numbers witnessed in 2024, which saw more than 45,000 crosses, establishing a new record.

The French government’s decision to change the law follows a series of meetings between Mrs. Cooper and Mr. Retilleau, and both parties agree that stronger application measures were needed to interrupt illegal crosses.

Speaking later, Terilleau said: “We need to rethink our approach to be able to intercept the ships.

“We must be able to intercept them 300 meters from the coast. They have a naval service, the gendarmerie, and must be able to intervene in shallow waters.”

He also proposed to restore the crime of “illegal stay” in France, which would allow the authorities to arrest migrants and smugglers before leaving.

The new policy could be crucial to address the growing use of “taxi ships” by gangs that submerge in people.

The tactic has become particularly frequent since the United Kingdom and France blocked access to several rivers that lead to the channel using floating dams, which makes the beaches the main starting point for migrants.

Mrs. Cooper said: “Criminal smuggled gangs are executing a terrible and dangerous trade of people, undermining the border security of the United Kingdom and French, causing huge damage and putting lives at risk.

“The gangs operate through the borders, so the police must also operate through the borders. That is why our joint work with France is so important, and we are strengthening our cooperation with the new specialist application teams to persecute these dangerous gangs.”

Cooperation between the United Kingdom and France has intensified, and the two countries accept to allocate additional funds to increase the application along the French coast.

Part of the funds of £ 7 million will be used to create a new unit of 12 detectives parked in Dunkerque, working to take energetic measures against smugglers.

The initiative will be supported by a new group of specialist compliance officers, with more drone operators to track illegal crosses.