French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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