France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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