French authorities 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.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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