France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start 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 response.
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