France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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