French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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