France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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