French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces 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 rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing 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 response.
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