France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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