French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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