France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following 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 follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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