France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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