French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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