French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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