French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit 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 permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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