France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" 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 official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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