French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any 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 official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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- French government backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
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