France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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