French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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