French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested 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 previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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