France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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