France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" 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 official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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