French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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