France will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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