France to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision 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 former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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