French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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