France will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more 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 small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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