France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, 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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