France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening 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 potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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