French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers 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 representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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