France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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