French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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UK immigration
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