France to begin stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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