France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out 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 significant step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up 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 interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Related Updates
- Why Britain can't just return asylum seekers to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security