France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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