French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former 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 French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for 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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