France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader 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 have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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