France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says 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 earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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