French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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