France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop 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 stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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