French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "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 picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk 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 representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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