French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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