France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out 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 significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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