France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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