French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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