French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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