French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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