France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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