French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, 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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