French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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