France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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