French authorities 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 urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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