French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking 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 comment.
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