French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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