France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk 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 maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade 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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