French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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