France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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