France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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