France to begin stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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