French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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