France will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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