French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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