France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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