French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking 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 postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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