French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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