France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, 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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