France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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