French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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