French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying 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 official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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