French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" 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 statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, 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 intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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