France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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