France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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