French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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