French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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