French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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