French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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