French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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