French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities 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 vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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