French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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