France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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