France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously 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 stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade 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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