France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English 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 asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed 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 prevent 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 implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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