France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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