France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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