France will start stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
