French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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