French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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