French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after 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 back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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