French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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