France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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