France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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