France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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