France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no 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 collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... 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 official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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