French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any 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 passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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