France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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