France will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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