French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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