French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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