France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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