France to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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