France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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