French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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