France will start stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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