France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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