French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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