France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "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 picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier 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 short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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