French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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