French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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