French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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