France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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