France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim 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 engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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