France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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