France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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