French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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