France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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