French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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