French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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