France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop 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 deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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