French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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