France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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