France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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