French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces 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 rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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