French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative 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 only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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