French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers 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 suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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