France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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