French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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