French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any 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 rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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