French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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