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, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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