France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
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 intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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