France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid 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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