France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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