French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats 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 done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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