French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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