French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, 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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