France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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