French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking 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 individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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