French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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