France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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