French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" 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 migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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- French government backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats
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Channel crossings
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