French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin intervening 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 reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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