France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
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 damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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