France will start stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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