French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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