France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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