France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French 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 collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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