France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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