French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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- Why Britain can't just return migrants to France
- French government withdrawing from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
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