French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique 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 warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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