France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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