French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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