France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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