French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust 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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