French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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