France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will begin 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 previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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