France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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