French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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