France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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