France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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