French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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