France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great 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."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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