French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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