French authorities will start 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 comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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