French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to 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 officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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