🔗 Share this article

French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson states 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 earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

Connected Updates

• Why UK can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory
• French government withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats