France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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