French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods 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 contacted for response.
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