French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying 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 picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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