French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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