French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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