French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking 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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