France will start stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" 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 confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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