France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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