France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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