French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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