French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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