French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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- French government withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
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