French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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