French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, 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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