French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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