French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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