French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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