France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded 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, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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