France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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