French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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