France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy 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 maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, 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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