French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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