French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any 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 collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers 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 commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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