French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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