French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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