French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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