French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "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 police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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UK immigration
Channel crossings
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