France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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