France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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