France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways 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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