France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening 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 possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, 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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