France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded 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 zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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