France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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