French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "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 picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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