French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative 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 only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt 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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