France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "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 passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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