France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" 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 confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, 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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