French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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