French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized 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 heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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