France to begin stopping small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded 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 period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, 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 boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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