French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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