France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police 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 overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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