French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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