French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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