France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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UK immigration
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