France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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