French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs 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 approached for comment.
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