France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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