France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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