French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized 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 heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid 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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