France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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