French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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- Reasons UK can't just return asylum seekers to French territory
- French government backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats
