French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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