France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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