French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Updates
- Reasons UK can't just return asylum seekers to French territory
- France withdrawing from commitment to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
