France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, 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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