France will start intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision 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 government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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