French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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