French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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