France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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