French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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