French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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