French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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