French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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