France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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