France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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- France backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats
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