France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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