French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, 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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