French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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