French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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- France backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
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