French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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