France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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