French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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