France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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