France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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- French government backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats
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