French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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