France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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