France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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