French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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