France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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