France will start intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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