French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... 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 aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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