France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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