France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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