France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid 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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