French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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