France will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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