French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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