French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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