French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit 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 allowed to intercept boats before 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 start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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