French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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