France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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