French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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