France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways 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 contacted for response.
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