France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for 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 comment.
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