French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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