French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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