France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for 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 contacted for comment.
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