🔗 Share this article

France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

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

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

"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."

Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

Connected Updates

• Why UK cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory
• France backing away from commitment to intercept asylum boats