French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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