French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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