France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed 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 heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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