France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
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 sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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