TerrorismArmed French police deployed on Channel ferries
Passenger ferries going between Britain and France are now being accompanied by armed sea patrols to protect them from jihadist attacks. In addition, marine gendarmes are now placed on ferries in the Channel and North Sea, as the two countries are in talks about allowing French security personnel togo on board ferries before the ferries leave English ports.
Cross Channel Ferry entering Millbay Docks Plymouth // Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Passenger ferries going between Britain and France are now being accompanied by armedsea patrols to protect them from jihadist attacks.
“A permanent unit has been deployed for passenger ferries since August 1,” Lieut Pierre-Joachim Antona told AFP.
“The marine gendarmes will carry out patrols, which will be random but regular, with the aim of securing these vessels against the terrorist threat,” he added.
CNBC reports that marine police deployed all along the French coastline — from the North Sea to the Mediterranean – now have to additional task of coordinating more closely with French land security forces to secure the country’s waters, the spokesman said.
The first such patrol took place on Monday, with French officers flown in by helicopter onto the Mont Saint-Michel ferry, just as it entered French waters from southern England. The officers remained on board until the vessel reached its final destination in the northwestern French town of Caen.
Antona said the armed patrols would be similar to those in train stations across France. The police say that the high visibility of these patrols helps deter attacks.
France and Britain are in talks about expanding the marine patrols’ mandate beyond the limits of French territorial waters. The French security forces want French officers to go on board ferries before the ferries leave English ports.
Tourism industry officials have complained that the heightened security measure taken by France have caused massive backups. Last week, for example, British holidaymakers spent fifteen hours in their cars in long queues which snaked back from the port of Dover as a result of tightened entry checks by French border police.
