French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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