France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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