French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure 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 preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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