France will start intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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