French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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