French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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