France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats 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 President asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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