French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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