France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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