French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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