France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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