France will start stopping small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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