France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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