France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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