French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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- France backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
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