French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back 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 exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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