France to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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