France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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