French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent 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 methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept 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 major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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