France will start stopping small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high 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 representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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