French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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