French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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