France will start stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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