France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept 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, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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