French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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