French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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