French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no 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 picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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