French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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