French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding 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 authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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