France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging 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 collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded 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 no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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