French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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