France will start stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging 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 only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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