French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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