France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent 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 official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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