France will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
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 maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust 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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