French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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