French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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