French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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