French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade 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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