French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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