French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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