France will start stopping small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted 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.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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