French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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