France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade 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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