France will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating 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 passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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