French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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