France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" 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 authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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