French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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