French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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