France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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