French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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