French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before 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 interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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