France will start intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement 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 previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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