French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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