France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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