France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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