France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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