French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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