France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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