French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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