France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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