French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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