France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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