France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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