French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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