French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated 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 damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust 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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