🔗 Share this article

French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.

"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.

Related Updates

• Why Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to France
• French government backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats