French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening 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 possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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