France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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