French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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