French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative 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 authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"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 begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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