French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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