French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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