French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start 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 the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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