French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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