France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded 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 month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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