France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"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 safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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