France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving 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 begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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