France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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