France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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