France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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