French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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- France withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats
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