France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy 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 collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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