France to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized 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 intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated 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 slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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