France to begin intercepting 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 Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities 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 small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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