France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows 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 will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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