France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Related Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- French government withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
