France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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