French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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