French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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