France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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