France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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