France will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great 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."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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