France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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