France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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