French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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