France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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