France will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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- Why Britain can't just send back migrants to France
- France backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
