French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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