France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods 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 approached for comment.
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