France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop 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, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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