French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start 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 method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking 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 interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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