French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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