French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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