France will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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