France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported 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 short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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