French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" 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 authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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