France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after 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 initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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