France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although 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 detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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