French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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