French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following 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 back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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