French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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