French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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