France to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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