France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
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 statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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