French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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UK immigration
Channel crossings
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