French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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