French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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