French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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