French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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