France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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