French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop 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 stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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