France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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