France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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