France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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