France to begin stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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