French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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