French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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UK immigration
Channel crossings
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