French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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