France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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