France will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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