French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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