French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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