French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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