French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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