French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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