French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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