France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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