French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, 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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