French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking 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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