France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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