France will start stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, 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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