French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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