French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect 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 commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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