French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" 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 migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high 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 waters."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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