French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although 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 avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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