French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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