French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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