France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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