French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying 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 collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt 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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