French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "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 picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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