French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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