France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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