France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid 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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